David Sullivan could yet rake in extra millions as new Lucas Paqueta agreement revealed
Lucas Paqueta’s transfer to Flamengo could have some extra financial benefits for West Ham further down the road.
After months of speculation, Paqueta swapped West Ham for Flamengo for £36.5million on 30 January, ending a turbulent spell at London Stadium.
Paqueta was cleared of spot-fixing charges last year when he was still at West Ham, with the investigation taking a big toll on the 28-year-old.
West Ham had hoped this deal could help them poach rising Brazilian talent, but Flamengo put a stop to that fairly swiftly.
However, West Ham‘s relationship with Flamengo still appears to be intact following a development over a possible next move for Paqueta.
West Ham to ‘receive compensation’ if Lucas Paqueta is sold…
On Tuesday, Flamengo club president Luiz Eduardo Baptista confirmed that West Ham have a buy-back clause for former Lyon star Paqueta.
He added that any future sale of the playmaker would trigger financial compensation for West Ham, something owner David Sullivan would likely have approved of.
Baptista explained that the Hammers wanted protection in case the attacking midfielder left Brazil after a short spell and moved on for a bigger fee.
He told AS: “There are clauses that state that, if Paqueta is sold, West Ham will receive compensation. I think it’s absolutely legitimate.
“If I were in the place of the owner of West Ham, I would think that, if Paqueta only plays one year in Brazil and we sell him for 70 million, West Ham would be harmed.
“So we had to negotiate because if tomorrow an offer of €100m arrives for Paqueta to Flamengo then I will consider his possible sale. Be careful, as long as Paqueta accepts it.”
The Flamengo president also revealed that Paqueta received “three or four” offers from European teams but the desire to return home to his boyhood club was too good an opportunity to refuse.
Moreover, he said the former Manchester City target could “earn more money” than at Flamengo but financial riches are not Paqueta’s priority right now.
West Ham no longer reliant on former talisman Paqueta
Paqueta so often came to West Ham’s rescue in recent years, and provided the assist for their Conference League final win in June 2023.
Despite being one of West Ham’s top scorers this season with four Premier League goals, the Hammers have been better without him in recent weeks.
With Paqueta in the team, West Ham utilised a 4-2-3-1 formation that stagnated but following his departure, January signing Taty Castellanos has led the line and fellow new recruit Pablo or striker Callum Wilson have partnered him in attack.
And winger Crysencio Summerville has come alive on the left in their new 4-4-1-1 formation, a setup that has led to three wins in their last four league games.
They are now just three points behind 17th-placed Forest ahead of Tuesday night’s home clash with in-form Manchester United at London Stadium.
On 21 February, they then host lowly Bournemouth. If they can win both of these fixtures, the great escape is well and truly on.